A proud moment for Tamilians

There’s more to Tamil Nadu besides Superstar Rajinikanth and Kumbakonam degree filter kaapi — and now the rest of the world will know it too! In its list of ‘52 places to go in 2016’, The New York Times has named the southern state at number 24 — the only Indian State in the list at that  — thereby beating the likes of even tourist attractions like Goa or Kerala!

The temples of Tamil Nadu have played a major role in bagging this honour. NYT bills the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, dedicated to the powerful female deity;  and Thanjavur’s Brihadeeswarar Temple, which speaks volumes of the stone carvings painstakingly done by the mighty Cholas way back in the nighnth century, as ‘temple towns’ brimming with rich cultural heritage.

The Chettinad region with more than 50 villages filled with 18th century mansions of carved Burma teak, is something to be proud of, too. Speaking of TN, can its much-celebrated cuisine be left behind? Of course, not as NYT itself has vouched for — the cuisine that is among the spiciest and most aromatic in the country and often served on banana leaves, is literally heaven on Earth.

While the state might still be battling infrastructure issues, mushrooming of boutique hotels are providing relief to avid travelers. Next time, foreigners think of India, it might not just allude to north India, but our very own Tamil Nadu. Ready, steady, po, makkale!